Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Frank Frazetta: Tomorrow Midnight

The Jerry Weist collection of science fiction and fantasy art will be sold at Heritage Auctions on September 12 in Beverly Hills, with internet bidding ending the night before. The cover lot is this evocative painting by Frank Frazetta which served as the cover art for the paperback edition of the E.C. comic book adaptation of Ray Bradbury's Tomorrow Midnight. Heritage refers to Frazetta as "the greatest fantasy artist of all time." I won't dispute that since I can't think of anyone better.  

I didn't ever read these E.C. adaptations from the sixties and I'm not familiar with the Bradbury story. I know I've seen this well-known illustration somewhere, but right now I'm not feeling any sort of emotional connection to the artwork. But somebody clearly is. Bidding is already at $28,000.

FRANK FRAZETTA (American, 1928-2010)
Tomorrow Midnightpaperback cover, 1966


Oil on board
19.5 x 14.75 in.
Signed and dated lower left

For many fans, their first exposure to the magic of EC's evocative comic book adaptations of Ray Bradbury's short story classics came courtesy of two sixties Ballantine Books paperback reprints, Tomorrow Midnight and The Autumn People. The legendary fantasy master Frank Frazetta was the obvious choice as cover artist for these titles, and this was the last in the series. This superb cover scene captures perfectly the haunting poetry of Ray Bradbury's vision, and is one of the finest Frazetta masterpieces we've ever had the pleasure to offer-it's not only a stunning, peak period painting by the greatest fantasy artist of all time, it's also got the added appeal of EC and Bradbury, encompassing three of Weist's lifelong passions. From the Jerry Weist Collection. Estimate: $40,000 - $60,000.

September 12, 2011 Update::

Sold for:$83,650.00 (includes BP)

I'm still not feeling it!

 

2011 September Beverly Hills Signature Jerry Weist Collection of Science Fiction & Fantasy Art and Books Auction #6069

Lot 30028

FRANK FRAZETTA (American, 1928-2010)
Tomorrow Midnightpaperback cover, 1966


Oil on board
19.5 x 14.75 in.
Signed and dated lower left

For many fans, their first exposure to the magic of EC's evocative comic book adaptations of Ray Bradbury's short story classics came courtesy of two sixties Ballantine Books paperback reprints, Tomorrow Midnight and The Autumn People. The legendary fantasy master Frank Frazetta was the obvious choice as cover artist for these titles, and this was the last in the series. This superb cover scene captures perfectly the haunting poetry of Ray Bradbury's vision, and is one of the finest Frazetta masterpieces we've ever had the pleasure to offer-it's not only a stunning, peak period painting by the greatest fantasy artist of all time, it's also got the added appeal of EC and Bradbury, encompassing three of Weist's lifelong passions. From the Jerry Weist Collection. Estimate: $40,000 - $60,000.




Note:  My brief book review of Al Capp's Li'l Abner:  The Frazetta Years:  Volume 4 (1960-1961) can be found here.




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